Radiation Therapy & Bone Densitometry PDF

RADIATION THERAPY RT 100 RADIATION THERAPY It is a type of cancer treatment that uses high energy beams to destroy cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiation therapy damages cancer cells’ DNA to destroy their ability to divide and grow. The body then naturally rids itself of these d...

RADIATION THERAPY RT 100 RADIATION THERAPY It is a type of cancer treatment that uses high energy beams to destroy cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiation therapy damages cancer cells’ DNA to destroy their ability to divide and grow. The body then naturally rids itself of these damaged cells. TYPES OF RADIATION EXTERNAL BEAM THERAPY/ TELETHERAPY - is the most common type of radiation treatment for cancer. External means that the energy beams come from a machine outside of the body. INTERNAL BEAM THERAPY/ BRACHYTHERAPY- During this treatment, a doctor places an implant containing radiation in or near the cancer site. The implants come in different shapes: tube, wire, capsule, seeds, pellets. SYSTEMIC RADIATION THERAPY - another kind of internal radiation therapy. It requires a person to swallow a radioactive substance, which travels throughout the body to find and kill the cancerous cells. WHY PEOPLE RECEIVE RADIATION THERAPY? reducing or curing early-stage cancer stopping cancer from spreading to another part of the body treating cancer that has returned relieving symptoms of advanced cancer EXTERNAL BEAM RADIATION USES: breast cancer lung cancer prostate cancer colon cancer cancers of the head or neck The NCI suggests that brachytherapy may be an especially effective treatment for cancers in certain parts of the body, including the: cervix vagina uterus rectum head and neck eye  A doctor may also recommend brachytherapy for cancers of the: prostate brain lung skin breast esophagus anus bladder SIDE EFFECTS AND RISKS extreme fatigue loss of appetite skin irritation in the treated area BONE DENSITOMETRY BONE DENSITOMETRY Bone density scanning, also called dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) or bone densitometry, is an enhanced form of x-ray technology that is used to measure bone loss. DXA is today's established standard for measuring bone mineral density (BMD). WHAT ARE SOME COMMON USES OF THE PROCEDURE? DXA is most often used to diagnose osteoporosis, a condition that often affects women after menopause but may also be found in men and rarely in children. DXA is also effective in tracking the effects of treatment for osteoporosis and other conditions that cause bone loss. The DXA test can also assess an individual's risk for developing fractures. The risk of fracture is affected by age, body weight, history of prior fracture, family history of osteoporotic fractures and life style issues such as cigarette smoking and excessive alcohol consumption. These factors are taken into consideration when deciding if a patient needs therapy. BONE DENSITY TESTING IS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED IF YOU: are a post-menopausal woman and not taking estrogen. have a personal or maternal history of hip fracture or smoking. are a post-menopausal woman who is tall (over 5 feet 7 inches) or thin (less than 125 pounds). are a man with clinical conditions associated with bone loss, such as rheumatoid arthritis, chronic kidney or liver disease. use medications that are known to cause bone loss, including corticosteroids such as Prednisone, various anti-seizure medications such as Dilantin and certain barbiturates, or high-dose thyroid replacement drugs. have type 1 (formerly called juvenile or insulin-dependent) diabetes, liver disease, kidney disease or a family history of osteoporosis. BONE DENSITY TESTING IS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED IF YOU: have high bone turnover, which shows up in the form of excessive collagen in urine samples. have a thyroid condition, such as hyperthyroidism. have a parathyroid condition, such as hyperparathyroidism. have experienced a fracture after only mild trauma. have had x-ray evidence of vertebral fracture or other signs of osteoporosis.